A new study suggests that exercise may reduce the chances of developing heart disease for people struggling with depression.
According to the NWI Times, the data suggests that depressed people are are not physically active typically have stiffer and more inflamed aortas — the large artery which carries blood away from the heart. Separately, these are two different signs of heart disease. Together, they represent a definite red-flag.
In depressed people who do exercise, however, aortic stiffening and inflammation are less common, according to the study which was published Monday in the online edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
“Depression and physical inactivity have been shown to be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events,” said Dr. Gregg Fonarow, a professor of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles, who reviewed the findings of the study.
“Although associations [in the study] were found between depression and artery function, which was improved in people who exercise regularly, additional studies are needed before we can conclude that exercise reduces the risk in those with depression,” he said.
Previous studies have linked depression with not only a high risk of heart disease, but a higher risk of other physical ailments as well. The study authors also point out that the data indicates that depression is also linked to worse outcomes for people with heart disease and other conditions.
The study examined nearly 1,000 volunteers, the mean age of which was 49 years. One third of the participants were male.
Dr. Arshed Quyyumi, who led the study, believes that the study findings highlight a very real link between depression and heart disease.
“Research also demonstrates the positive effects of exercise for all patients, including those with depressive symptoms,” Quyyumi said in a news release.